I believe in God, but I don't believe everything in the bible?

Question

The bible was inspired by God, but he didn't write it himself. Men wrote it. Plus, the bible has been tampered with for thousands of years and many believe the translations to be inaccurate. There are parts of the bible that I truly do believe...but some parts I think are straight up lies. Am I still a Christian? Are there other Christians out there like me who don't trust the bible?

Geoffrey-Just wanna make it clear that I am not on my way to becoming an atheist. Not at all. I believe in God, always have always will. I just don't trust the bible because of the fact that men wrote it.

Answer 1

I'm with ya...

As you stated, the fact that MAN wrote the bible leads me to believe it is not entirely accurate. I honestly believe that the Catholic church altered the bible for it's own benefit. Remember, this is one of the main reasons that Protestant religions left the Catholic church to teach and spread their own interpretations of the bible.

So, to answer your question, since day 1 there has been many people who feel the same as you. Just remember religion is simply an interpretation of sorts, and your interpretation is all that matters for you.

Answer 2

Well, if you consider the oral tradition before the stories were written down, and then woven together to form the OT/HB, then you have a lot of "tampering." There were originally 4 written sources that were used to put together the OT/HB, and then the translations into Greek, and later Latin, and then modern languages also cause problems. Furthermore, there are stories and parts of stories that exist in the newer versions of the Bible than in the oldest sources.

You can probably define yourself as a Christian since about everything goes, especially in the last 200 years. (Before then, you would have had to believe in predestination!) You might want to consider yourself a Deist, like Thomas Jefferson. He even redacted his own Bible, which is an activity you might like to do. Just go through and highlight the parts you like, and focus on those areas.

I would suggest reading the Stephen L. Harris books about the OT/HB and the NT if you're interested in religious and textual origins for Christianity.

Finally, there are lots of people who believe in God, but are not Christian and have nothing to do with the Bible. If you want to, go to the library or look on line and study world religions. At the very least, you will become a more well-rounded person

Answer 3

Tricky! I was Christened, and therefor regard myself as a Christian, but I'm sure, by devout Christians I wouldn't be. I believe in a god and I pray every night, but I certainly don't preach the bible, nor do I believe in most of it. I have faith, and I like to think that there is something there, but like you say, the bible has been tampered with in so many ways, what do you truly know to believe in?
My view is this - if there is truly only one god, why are there so many other religions? If god created the world in 7 days, and Adam and Eve were the first people on earth, then where does evolution come in to it? And what about the dinosaurs?
And here is the thing that gets me the most - Christians believe in only one religion and Jesus is the thing that holds that all together right, and Christianity is the only way to be? So why on earth is there Christianity in the first place, when it's a well documented fact that Jesus was a Jew?! It's all very hypocritical. And to be honest with you, when you consider all the wars that have been started in the name of religion - is it all really worth it?!

Answer 4

First, if you believe in God, then you know he can do anything. He can certainly inspire men to write his Word. He can also preserve it from being in error and from being tampered with.

The Bible has not been tampered with. There are many translations today that are straight from the original texts.

What you need to focus on is what parts don't you believe? Then you realize that the flaw is in your interpretation, not in what is written.

Let's say you're speeding down the road. You get a ticket. You go to court and tell the judge that your interpretation of the legal speed limit law is that it's just a suggested speed. You tell the judge in your opinion you can go over the speed limit because you know you're a good driver. What do you think he/she will say? They will tell you that your interpretation is wrong...the law says what it says...but you are interpreting it to fit what you think.

That is what so many people do with the Bible. Hence, what appears to be inconsistent and contradictory is not. The Bible is the Word of God and cannot be in error. But the minds of people can be.

Answer 5

I think believing everything in the Bible is very important. I guess I just don't understand the extent of your question. If you are saying you believe in some parts of the Bible but not others because it doesn't fit your life style then I personal think that is wrong, even though I don't think that is what you mean. I think that some parts of the Bible are hard to understand and may seem not to make sense but I just pray that it will make sense to me. Already so much of the Bible that I have had trouble making sense of has come to make sense to me. So my advice would to keep studying the Bilbe and pray. I will pray for you and Good Luck. Have a wonderful day!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

Its dangerous to pick and choose which parts of the Bible you are going to believe. I have no doubt you are a Christian, but it sounds like your faith needs to be strengthened. You may want to consider talking to your priest/pastor/Sunday School teacher, or some other Christian mentor.

Remember, the Bible says (and I truly hope and pray that you believe this part):

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and shun evil.

Proverbs 3:5-7

Answer 7

Be specific not vague. What is NOT to trust? Because it is just the facts and not sugar-coated? is too graphic? Gives and defines moral and ethical absolutes? Puts a real true face on good and evil and the consequences of both? What?

Research the histories of the people, the times, the nations, and the rulers found in the Bible and you will come to "know" that the Bible is a true unvarnished historical accounting of God, Jesus Christ, man, history, and life.

Answer 8

If you don't believe everything in the Bible and follow the teachings of Christ as found in the New Testament, then you are not a Christian. To be a Christian is to be a follower of Christ. The only way we can follow Christ is by his example and commandments and the only place to find that example and commandments is the Bible.

Being a true Christian and believing and following the Bible go hand in hand. You cannot seperate the two.

Answer 9

I have my "issues" with parts of the bible, that perhaps since man wrote it, the interpretation is flawed. I do not however know and I do trust a lot of the bible.
When I pray and read it, I usually feel my spirit moving in me and that tells me it is the truth.
Like anything in life, it's hard sometimes to just put your trust completely in something, especially if man had a hand in writing it.

Answer 10

How can you believe that the creator
God who made everything, can not see that the instructions for your life make it too you the way he intended.

Did you know that your argument has been used for many years, in the 1940's when the Dead Sea Scrolls, were first found, these jars had been sealed up since at least the Roman era, when they compared the Book of Isaiah, to copies that we have, it was exactly word for word as the modern version. At least 2000 years had passed, but it was the same. God is a powerful God, keeping his word clean is simple for him, faith for you may be harder.